Monday, January 21, 2008

Planning For Lambeth 2008

The 2008 Lambeth Conference officially opened today. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams announced that approximately 70% of the bishops of the Anglican Communion have accepted their invitations to the Lambeth Conference and that others have said that they plan to attend. According to the Guardian, much of the conversation at the meeting centered on homosexuality.

With all the dreadful problems facing us in our world today, it is amazing to me that homosexuality was the main topic of the conversation - truly amazing. War, famine, disease, global warming, all yield place to homosexuality.

Bishop Gene Robinson of the Diocese of New Hampshire, who is openly gay and partnered, has not, so far, been invited to Lambeth.

When asked if he had decided whether Robinson would attend, Williams replied: "Gene Robinson has not been invited to the Lambeth Conference and it is proving extremely difficult to see under what heading he might be invited to be around, and that is where we are.

My suggestion is that he be invited around as the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire. I'd ask Archbishop Williams the reason for his exclusion!

Episcopal spouses will be well cared for under the direction of Jane Williams, wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Margaret Sentamu, wife of the Archbishop of York. They are promised more than "jam and Jerusalem, more tea vicar, or mitre-making and flower arranging".

15 comments:

It's not that big a deal. I've had more complicated sewing projects - a diaconal stole, for instance.

Flower arranging -- never cared for it.

But . . . jam and Jerusalem? What the? Doesn't the Middle East have enough problems without being smeared with jam at one of its leading religious sites, convergence of 3 of the world's major religions? This is just the sort of irresponsible behavior that has characterized Rowan's Archepiscopacy!

Mark, "Jam & Jerusalem" is an old English joke about what the Women's Institute (save time - Google it) a British women's voluntary organization, does - i.e. discuss recipes ("jam") & sing its unofficial anthem (Parry's setting of Blake's "Jerusalem"). It's also the title of a currently airing & popular British sitcom, co-authored by Jennifer Saunders ("Absolutely Fabulous") about such an organization. So in UK terms, Williams' reference is topical and immediately understandable.

Doesn't the Middle East have enough problems without being smeared with jam at one of its leading religious sites

Well you never know, in the face of the general failure of politicians to sort things, a touch of the surreal may actually crack it. Failing that I would send in the WI. Fearsome ladies they are, they simply would not have any untidiness.

My suggestion is that he be invited around as the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire.

Mimi, if you keeping making sense like this MP will have nothing left to mock. Oh. Right. He'll mock anyway. Tsk. Just like my ex.

Thanks, Lapin. Though I am familiar with "Jerusalem" I wasn't making the connection. Really appreciate the cultural translations.

Mark, nice to know mitres are easier than diaconal stoles (which are a pain to make and lovely to see being worn).

Wouldn't it be great for the WI, ECW, Mothers Union, etc. to come in, kick some episcopal booty, and get things sorted out? The AC would be set right, spiffed up, and ready to move into the future in no time.

Mimi, my dear lady, thank you for asking. I'm fine, just a bit tired (getting over a nasty cold that's cutting huge swathes through the state) and irritable.

I hope you're well!

Thank you, Lapinbizarre. I've run across many British expressions and jokes, given my background and taste in books and film, but that one I'd not seen. Reading it without background or comprehension cause a reaction described by Lewis Black as "Your brain comes to a screeching halt and the left side looks at the right side and says, 'It's dark in here, and we might die.'"

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